DESIGN AND SYNTHESIS OF COUPLED

MULTI-ELEMENT ANTENNAS WITH CST

MWS AND MATLAB

C. Menudier,
M. Thevenot, F. Fezai, A. Oueslati, T. Monediere

XLIM - UMR CNRS 7252 - University of Limoges
Department Waves and Associated Systems
123, avenue Albert Thomas
87060 Limoges cedex, France
Email : cyrille.menudier@xlim.fr


1
CST EUC 2014 - BERLIN
XLIM : a few words on the Research Institute
2
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180 PhD students and Post-doc
More than 45 new Doctors/year
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Components Circuits Signals and High Frequency
Systems
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and microwave components
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1 Platform of technology and Instrumentation
for optical and microwave
1 Platform of cad under construction
1 Emerging team
3 Joint-laboratories
5 Cross-multidisciplinary programs
More than 15 start-up since 2004
Director : Pr D. Baillargeat
dir@xlim.fr


XLIM : Departement Waves and Associated Systems
3
Outline
Context : the complex design of MultiElement Antennas (MEA)

Proposed approach for the design of MEA
Definition of the problem to solve
Implementation with CST MWS and Matlab
Example with Reflectarrays

Some original designs of MEA in XLIM
Design of integrated Parasitic Element Antennas
Design of Hybrid antennas

Conclusions and prospects

4
Direct Radiating
Arrays (DRA)
DESIGN OF
MULTIELEMENT
ANTENNAS (MEA)
Reflectarrays (RA)
Parasitic Element
Antennas (PEA)
1 Watt
Context of MEA
5
The objective pattern is based on an accurate determination of the EM characteristics

I
1
I
2 I
n
Z
g
E
g
b
1
a
1
b
2
a
2
b
n
a
n
b
g
a
g
jX
2
jX
1
jX
n
a
1
.u
1
a
2
.u
2
a
g
.u
g
a
n
.u
n
Resulting
radiation pattern
Antennas
Feeding port and
reactive loads

I
1
b
1
a
1
I
2
b
2
a
2
jX
2
jX
1
I
n
b
n
a
n
jX
n
a
1
.u
1
a
2
.u
2
a
3
.u
3
a
n
.u
n
I
3
b
3
a
3
jX
3
I
4
b
4
a
4
jX
4
b0
1
b0
2
b0
3
b0
4 b0
n
a
4
.u
4

Z
G1

Z
E1

Z
G3

Z
E3

Z
G2

Z
E2

Mutual Coupling
Eg
1

Eg
3

Eg
2

U
3

U
1

U
2
Classical
arrays
Reflectarrays Parasitic Element
Antennas
Radiation pattern Linear combination of elementary patterns with appropriated weigthings.
These weightings depend on the type of radiating elements, their state of feeding and couplings.
These weightings are performed by dedicated circuits (BFN, phase shifters, )
6
Context of MEA
Accurate modeling is a challenging task
Example of reflectarrays : Design with only a Full-wave method ?
a=7 mm
D =310 mm
X
Y
Z
1 Watt
Context of MEA
Accurate modeling is a challenging task
7
a=7 mm
D=310 mm
X
Y
Z
1 Watt
CPU : Bi-Xeon 2.93 GHz, 8 cores, 32 Go
Ram
50 Millions of meshcells :
Computation time : ~ 8 hours

Parametric studies not possible
Not efficient for optimum design

Proposed approach :
Full-wave entries + analytical design = CST
MWS + Matlab

8
Context of MEA
Accurate modeling is a challenging task
Example of reflectarrays : Design with only a Full-wave method ?
-120
-110
-100
-90
-80
-70
-60
-50
-40
-30
-20
-10
0
10
20
30
40
50
60
70
80
90
100
110
120
11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20
p
h
a
s
e

p
o
r
t
s

1
0

G
h
z

(
D
e
g
r

)
mailles/Longeur d'onde
differentiel (1;200) phase b0(1)
phase b0(200) phase b0(20)
P
h
a
s
e

s
h
i
f
t
s

b
e
t
w
e
e
n

p
o
r
t
s

(

)

Meshes per wavelength
Meshes per wavelength
M
e
s
h
c
e
l
l
s

x

1
0
6

Outline
Context : the complex design of MultiElement Antennas (MEA)

Proposed approach for the design of MEA
Definition of the problem to solve
Implementation with CST MWS and Matlab
Example with Reflectarrays

Other examples of MEA design in XLIM
Design of integrated Parasitic Element Antennas
Design of Hybrid antennas

Conclusions and prospects

9
Definition of the problem to solve
Example of reflectarrays :
Required parameters :
[S], b
0
,
i
I
feed k
Z
X k
JX
k
Z
c
I
feed i
I
feed j
Z
cell
Z
cell
Z
cell
I
coupling i
I
coupling j
I
coupling k
Z
X i
= JX
i
Z
X j
= JX
j
a
j
b
tot j
b
tot k
a
i
a
k
b
tot i
[S
j,i
]
Cells
Reactive
load
Implementation in 2 steps:

Analysis (CST MWS)
+
Synthesis (Matlab)
Problem to solve
(*)
Derivation possible for all MEA : DRA, RA, PEA

=
1

1

= .
0

+ S
X
i
= img
50 +
i
50
i

With :
10
Proposed approach for the design of MEA
(*)
Y. Abdallah, C. Menudier, M. Thevenot, T. Monediere,
Investigations of the Effects of Mutual Coupling in Reflectarray
Antennas, IEEE Antennas and Propagation Magazine, vol. 55,
n
o
2, p. 49-61, 2013.
Full-wave
simulation
Extraction: [S], ui
Matlab Synthesis
Incident waves : ai
Load impedances (or
reactive loads): ZL_i, (Xi)
Optimization
complete
weighting
circuit design
Full-wave
simulation
optionnal
11
Proposed approach for the design of MEA
Implementation with CST MWS and Matlab
Full-wave
simulation
Extraction: [S], ui
Matlab Synthesis
Incident waves : ai
Load impedances (or
reactive loads): ZL_i, (Xi)
Optimization
complete
weighting
circuit design
Full-wave
simulation
optionnal
12
Proposed approach for the design of MEA
Implementation with CST MWS and Matlab
Pri mary
Feed
Panel
geometry
[S] Matrix
Diffracted Field
Incident coupled waves
{b
0 i
}
Elementary radiation
pattern
Reflectarray
Database
Anal ysi s
(Si mul ati ons or Measures)
Full-wave
simulation
Extraction: [S], ui
Matlab Synthesis
Incident waves : ai
Load impedances (or
reactive loads): ZL_i, (Xi)
Optimization
complete
weighting
circuit design
Full-wave
simulation
optionnal
13
Proposed approach for the design of MEA
Implementation with CST MWS and Matlab
Analytical Formalism
Radiation
Parametric studies
Synthesis of loads
Optimization Toolbox
Synthesi s
(Anal yti cal Sol ver)
Outputs
Reactive Loads (jX)
Radiation pattern
Phase quantization
Diffracted Fields
<E,H>
Distribution of
currents and
voltages
Database
Radi ati on
objecti ve
Full-wave
simulation
Extraction: [S], ui
Matlab Synthesis
Incident waves : ai
Load impedances (or
reactive loads): ZL_i, (Xi)
Optimization
complete
weighting
circuit design
Full-wave
simulation
optionnal
The process can be entirely controlled with
Matlab
14
Proposed approach for the design of MEA
Implementation with CST MWS and Matlab
The results are obtained
without opening CST MWS
Useful with C/C++
C-Compiler in Matlab + some
SDK
No control of the GUI
interface
Not easy for beginners in
programming

CST ResultReader DLL
2 SOLUTIONS
Easiest way to use :
DLL explorer : Microsoft Dependency Walker
List of available
functions
15
Proposed approach for the design of MEA
Implementation with CST MWS and Matlab
2 SOLUTIONS
Creation of a COM Server
with actxserver
The results are obtained without
opening CST MWS
(Quasi) Full control of GUI
Interface
Suited to complex batchs
Easy to use
Slower for accessing only to the
results
Some elements difficult to control

16
Proposed approach for the design of MEA
Implementation with CST MWS and Matlab
The results are obtained
without opening CST MWS
Useful with C/C++
C-Compiler in Matlab + some
SDK
No control of the GUI
interface
Not easy for beginners in
programming

CST ResultReader DLL
Full-wave
simulation
Extraction: [S], ui
Matlab Synthesis
Incident waves : ai
Load impedances (or
reactive loads): ZL_i, (Xi)
Optimization
complete
weighting
circuit design
Full-wave
simulation
optionnal
Analytical synthesis and fast parametric studies
Detailed Analysis of some EM properties
Can be a gateway for experimental developments
dBA dBA
CST : 8 h Matlab : 3 min
Example of results for RA with beam steering

17
{
0
=45;
0
=0}
Proposed approach for the design of MEA
Advantages for the design of reflectarrays
Outline
Context : the complex design of MultiElement Antennas (MEA)

Proposed approach for the design of MEA
Definition of the problem to solve
Implementation with CST MWS and Matlab
Example with Reflectarrays

Some original designs of MEA in XLIM
Design of integrated Parasitic Element Antennas
Design of Hybrid antennas

Conclusions and prospects

18
19
I
1
I
2
I
n

Z
g

E
g

b
1

a
1

b
2

a
2

b
n

a
n

b
g

a
g

jX
2
jX
1
jX
n

a
1
.u
1

a
2
.u
2

a
g
.u
g

a
n
.u
n

Resulting radiation
patterns
Elementary
antennas

Excited ports and
reactive loads
S
1g

S
2g

S
ng

u
i
( ; ) : radiation pattern of each
element
a
i
: excitation weightings
[S] : scattering matrix
X
i
: reactive loads
b
i
: coupled waves
Parameters :
( )
1
Rsultant 1
( , ) .
u | |
|
|
|
u = u
|
|
|
u
\ .
g n g
n
a a a u
Objective
pattern
System to solve :
( ) | | ( )
. b S a =
( ) | | ( )
. a b = I
( ) | | | | ( )
. . a S a = I
Antennas :
Reactive
loads :
Iterative
resolution
M. Thevenot, C. Menudier, et al. , Synthesis Of Antenna Arrays And Parasitic Antenna Arrays With Mutual Couplings,
International Journal of Antennas and Propagation, Special Issue on Mutual Couplings, vol 2012
Some original designs of MEA in XLIM
Design of integrated Parasitic Element Antennas with SMD
P
r
o
j
e
t

R
W
U

Main limitations of classical PEA :

- limited to a few number of elements
- long and fastidious parametric studies


Proposed design:

- Full and fast analytical studies
- Can be extended to 2D architecture
- Can de derived to advanced synthesis :
polarisation, frequency

20
Some original designs of MEA in XLIM
Design of integrated Parasitic Element Antennas with SMD

4
6
.
8
m
m

Locations for soldering
SMD components
15.63mm
1.6mm
270mm
30mm
15.63mm

4
0
m
m

Low-cost Substrate : FR4

r
= 4.15
tan = 2.5.10
-2

4
6
.
8
m
m

Locations for soldering
SMD components
15.63mm
1.6mm
270mm
30mm
15.63mm

4
0
m
m

Substrate : FR4

r
= 4.15
tan = 2.5.10
-2
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15
20
22
24
26
28
30
32
34
36
38
40
R
e
a
l
(
Z
e
)
Input impedance vs active port
Active port id.


2 4 6 8 10 12 14
-10
0
10
I
m
a
g
(
Z
e
)
Real(Ze)
Imag(Ze)
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15
8
9
10
11
12
13
F
o
r
w
a
r
d

R
a
d
i
a
t
i
o
n



(
d
i
r
e
c
t
i
v
i
t
y

/

d
B
)
Directivity vs active port
Active port id.


2 4 6 8 10 12 14
-20
-15
-10
-5
0
5
B
a
c
k
w
a
r
d

R
a
d
i
a
t
i
o
n



(
d
i
r
e
c
t
i
v
i
t
y

/

d
B
)
Forward radiation
Backward radiation
Analytical optimization
Some original designs of MEA in XLIM
Design of integrated Parasitic Element Antennas with SMD
21
- Very good agreement
- Demonstration of the interest of this approach
Plan
=0
Plan
=90
Directivity : 12.1 dBi
Measured realized gain : 10.4 dB
Total efficiency = 68 %



Charges CMS sur les
directeurs
12 directeurs
2 rflecteurs
Diple (lment excit)
larrire du PCB
Some original designs of MEA in XLIM
Design of integrated Parasitic Element Antennas with SMD
22





R
g

E
g


jX
i


jX
i


jX
i


jX
i


jX
i





R
g

E
g


jX
i


jX
i


jX
i


jX
i





R
g

E
g


jX
i


jX
i


jX
i





R
g

E
g


jX
i


jX
i


jX
i





R
g

E
g



R
g

E
g



jX
i

Excited element
Parasitic Element
with reactive loads
(jXi)
Combination of the properties of lacunar arrays and parasitic element antennas
Objectives : Reduction of the number of controls and simplification of BFN
How to? : Controlling the effective area with parasitic elements and reactive loads
Parasitic element instead of lacuna
degree of freedom

An accurate determination of
couplings is required

23
Some original designs of MEA in XLIM
Design of hybrid antennas
A. Oueslati, C. Menudier, M. Thevenot, T. Monediere, Potentialities of hybrid arrays with parasitic elements, Proceedings of Eucap 2014,
The Hague, Netherlands
Study of this concept with the presented approach
Full-wave
simulation
Extraction: [S], ui
Matlab Synthesis
Incident waves : ai
Load impedances (or
reactive loads): ZL_i, (Xi)
Optimization
complete
weighting
circuit design
Full-wave
simulation
optionnal
24
Some original designs of MEA in XLIM
Design of hybrid antennas
1 11 21 31 41 51 61 71 81 91
2 12 22 32 42 52 62 72 82 92
3 13 23 33 43 53 63 73 83 93
4 14 24 34 44 54 64 74 84 94
5 15 25 35 45 55 65 75 85 95
6 16 26 36 46 56 66 76 86 96
7 17 27 37 47 57 67 77 87 97
8 18 28 38 48 58 68 78 88 98
9 19 29 39 49 59 69 79 89 99
10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90 100
1 11 21 31 41 51 61 71 81 91
2 12 22 32 42 52 62 72 82 92
3 13 23 33 43 53 63 73 83 93
4 14 24 34 44 54 64 74 84 94
5 15 25 35 45 55 65 75 85 95
6 16 26 36 46 56 66 76 86 96
7 17 27 37 47 57 67 77 87 97
8 18 28 38 48 58 68 78 88 98
9 19 29 39 49 59 69 79 89 99
10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90 100


0
0.1
0.2
0.3
0.4
0.5
0.6
0.7
0.8
0.9
1
Estimation of performances (example of an antenna with 100 elements, {u
0
=30, |
0
=90} , single frequency )
Distribution of excited elements

15 elements excited,
D=21.8 dB
A synthesis allowing an excitation of multiple parasitic elements allows to
control the effective area of the antenna with a reduced number of
controls
25
Some original designs of MEA in XLIM
Design of hybrid antennas
100 elements excited,
D=22.8 dB (ref case)
Normalized weightings |a
i
| of the
elements

Outline
Context : the complex design of MultiElement Antennas (MEA)

Proposed approach for the design of MEA
Definition of the problem to solve
Implementation with CST MWS and Matlab
Example with Reflectarrays

Some original designs of MEA in XLIM
Design of integrated Parasitic Element Antennas
Design of Hybrid antennas

Conclusions and prospects

26
27
Conclusions and perspectives
Linking CST MWS + Matlab is a great opportunity for antennas
designers :
Full extraction of EM data (CST MWS Matlab)
Efficient Synthesis with couplings (Matlab)

Opportunity to study innovative concepts
Parasitic Element Antennas with SMD for easier manufacturing
process
Hybrid antennas to reduce the number of controls in arrays

Perspectives
Reducing the first step of the proposed approach
Developping a test bench for experimental optimization with :
measurements + CST MWS + Matlab

Thank you for your attention
28